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Crowd last night

Haven't sifted through all the posts yet so feel free to merge this into another thread if it's already been discussed at length. But last night was one of the the more pathetic crowds I've experienced for a "big" game at the Barn. I know 6 PM games can be tough with the traffic etc but there were an alarming number of empty seats. I was sat row 9 upper deck and we had NOBODY behind us in our entire section.

And besides the poor attendance, the overall energy in the building was awful. There was similarly poor attendance at the Nebraska game, but the fans who were there that night really got into the game and made a huge difference. That simply didn't happen last night, and there were a few occasions late first half/early second half where the fans should've been able to get into the game.

School still being out is an issue, but student section was pathetic in both numbers and energy level as well.

Haven't sifted through all the posts yet so feel free to merge this into another thread if it's already been discussed at length. But last night was one of the the more pathetic crowds I've experienced for a "big" game at the Barn. I know 6 PM games can be tough with the traffic etc but there were an alarming number of empty seats. I was sat row 9 upper deck and we had NOBODY behind us in our entire section.

And besides the poor attendance, the overall energy in the building was awful. There was similarly poor attendance at the Nebraska game, but the fans who were there that night really got into the game and made a huge difference. That simply didn't happen last night, and there were a few occasions late first half/early second half where the fans should've been able to get into the game.

School still being out is an issue, but student section was pathetic in both numbers and energy level as well.

So the worst 7 rows of seats in a crappy seating area were empty?

I was there...114 row 5...and remember saying to myself that the crowd seemed pretty good for a 6pm game. And I distinctly remember looking up at the area under the flag during the anthem and thinking about the people that are standing in that last row having to look at the flag from behind.

Season tickets since 1970 - Born in 1969

"Bruce, I think you have a future as a twitter translator." - Winnipegopher - 1/7/2011
"I was lost without your translation Mister Kaupa. Thank you!" - fan of Ray Williams - 1/8/2011

1) the more people pay, the more they expect
2) Failure to convert on free throws killed everyone's energy
3) People were too discouraged by the flaws in the Wisconsin, didnt work up enough joy to last into this this game

I was there...114 row 5...and remember saying to myself that the crowd seemed pretty good for a 6pm game. And I distinctly remember looking up at the area under the flag during the anthem and thinking about the people that are standing in that last row having to look at the flag from behind.

Attendance issues at UMN basketball and football go deeper than not winning enough. Compare Minnesota's historical football attendance with other similarly middling teams (say, Kentucky) and the lack of support is plainly there. Of course it is related to the metropolitan location of the university and competition for the local sports dollar but my sense is that the average citizen of Minnesota is not as supportive of their flagship educational institution as say, the average citizens of Wisconsin or Iowa. This is sort of harsh to say but rings true for many of us who have lived in these states.

Attendance issues at UMN basketball and football go deeper than not winning enough. Compare Minnesota's historical football attendance with other similarly middling teams (say, Kentucky) and the lack of support is plainly there. Of course it is related to the metropolitan location of the university and competition for the local sports dollar but my sense is that the average citizen of Minnesota is not as supportive of their flagship educational institution as say, the average citizens of Wisconsin or Iowa. This is sort of harsh to say but rings true for many of us who have lived in these states.

Iowa and Wisconsin fans haven't had to deal with our athletic department.

I was there also in Section114 row 23. I guess Bruce Kaupa's view and mine were about the same and I thought the crowd was pretty decent for a Tuesday 6:00 game. I do think the Free throw shooting did kill the buzz. We also had two guys behind us who did not seem too interested in the game but more interested in taking about work and religion. they did not shut up the whole game. The game was there for the Gophers to claim and keep the crowd into it but they shot themselves in the foot and Maryland could not miss it seemed.

I was there also in Section114 row 23. I guess Bruce Kaupa's view and mine were about the same and I thought the crowd was pretty decent for a Tuesday 6:00 game. I do think the Free throw shooting did kill the buzz. We also had two guys behind us who did not seem too interested in the game but more interested in taking about work and religion. they did not shut up the whole game. The game was there for the Gophers to claim and keep the crowd into it but they shot themselves in the foot and Maryland could not miss it seemed.

Hmm, that's interesting.

My old seats were 114 row 24. I distinctly remember being there with a friend who had just returned from a vacation to Mexico, talking about it during the game and the crabby guy in front of us sitting there not talking to his wife the entire game and then attempting to berate us because we were talking about things other than basketball. Was that you??

BTW...it's possible to watch the game and talk about other things. For some people, Gopher games are the rare times in a busy winter that they have the opportunity to see each other in person.

Season tickets since 1970 - Born in 1969

"Bruce, I think you have a future as a twitter translator." - Winnipegopher - 1/7/2011
"I was lost without your translation Mister Kaupa. Thank you!" - fan of Ray Williams - 1/8/2011